FAQ
When contemplating whether you should go abroad for your study course there is a multitude of questions that you will no doubt have. This is why we have compiled a list of most Frequently Asked Questions for you – take a look to see if we have dealt with some of your main queries. If not, please feel free to either email us on the Help Me button or email the institute of higher education directly. There is always someone here to answer any questions you may have!
Application
Can I apply for an Undergraduate Programme? 
Can I apply for an Undergraduate Programme? 
That depends. If you have a school leaving certificate from a country in the EU, enrolling for an Undergraduate Programme poses no problem. If you have a school leaving certificate from another country, you should find out whether it is recognised as an equivalent to the German Abitur (school leaving exam). As this varies depending on the country you are from, the institution of higher education you want to join and the Programme you want to enrol in, you should check with the university you want to apply to directly.
Do I have to translate and authenticate my certifications and documents?
Do I have to translate and authenticate my certifications and documents?
Usually the German authorities require officially translated documents from specific authorities.
Please note: Never hand in original documents, always make certified copies instead!
How do I secure a place at a university?
How do I secure a place at a university?
The Academic Office for foreign students (Akademisches Auslandsamt) and the Central Office for the allocation of study places, (ZVS) allocate seats for students. You can only be accepted if you provide proof of qualifiying for admission to higher education. After that you can be registered at the university.
If I wish to submit my application to any institution of higher education, when do I have to do this by? What is the deadline?
If I wish to submit my application to any institution of higher education, when do I have to do this by? What is the deadline?
Deadlines competely depend on the higher education institute. Please contact the International Office directly and state what you would like to study and when you are planning to begin your studies.
Which documents do international students require here?
Which documents do international students require here?
The following documents are an absolute necessity for every international student:
- Student visa
- Passport or an equivalent document
- Original certificates and the originals of the certified German translations
- A note from a qualified medical doctor stating any illnesses or required medication, if necessary
- Vaccination certificate, preferably international
- Passport photographs for identification cards
Which qualifications do I need to be admitted to Higher Education Institutions in Germany?
Which qualifications do I need to be admitted to Higher Education Institutions in Germany?
• If you wish to gain a doctorate in Germany, you need to hold a university degree which is equivalent to a degree gained at a German university. Equivalency is decided by the university in question and you should contact your chosen institution directly.
In difficult cases, please contact the German Central Office for Foreign Education.
• If you wish to come to Germany to do research, please get in touch with the respective university or research institute to inquire about the conditions which apply, as these may vary distinctly.
• If you are planning to complete a course of postgraduate, extension or supplementary studies, your university degree must qualify you for admission to such a course.
• If you are seeking admission to a full degree course, you – as well as German applicants – will need to hold a higher education entrance qualification. If your school leaving certificate (higher education entrance qualification) is recognised as equivalent to a German qualification, you can be admitted directly to higher education institutions in Germany. If not, you will be required to take an assessment test (“Feststellungsprüfung”) in Germany to determine whether you are qualified to study.
For information about which school leaving certificates are considered equivalent, please look at our site on Entrance Qualifications.
• Some degree courses, especially in the field of art and music, require applicants to demonstrate their particular artistic talent by sitting an aptitude test (“Eignungsprüfung”).
Cost of living
Do I receive any subsidies and reductions as a student?
Do I receive any subsidies and reductions as a student?
Yes, you do. The fee you pay for the student social services is a contribution to various subsidies that you automatically receive as a student. These include:
- Cheap meals in the refectories and cafeterias
- Semester ticket that enables travelling cheaper on public transport
- Accident and liability insurance
- Child care
- Subsidies of tickets to cultural events
- Social advisory services, legal advice and general consulting services
- Free access to student libraries
- Bridging loans in case of emergencies
How much do I need a month to live in Baden-Württemberg?
How much do I need a month to live in Baden-Württemberg?
You will require around € 700 per month. This covers housing, food, clothing, study materials, as well as other expenses such as health insurance and leisure activities.
How much does studying in Baden-Württemberg cost?
How much does studying in Baden-Württemberg cost?
From the summer semester 2007 onwards, a 500 € tuition fee will apply each semester at all public institutions of higher education in Baden-Württemberg. Additionally, 40 € will have to be paid for administration plus about 40 € to 70 € are due for student social services each academic term.
Higher Education Institutions
How does a doctorate or Ph.D. work in Baden-Württemberg?
How does a doctorate or Ph.D. work in Baden-Württemberg?
If you wish to do a doctorate in Germany, an excellent university degree is required. This should also be equivalent to a degree gained at a German university.
Generally, the following guidelines apply:
- The student’s university degree has to be recognized as being equivalent to a German degree.
- The student needs to find a supervisor. Contacting the chosen university / department or international office of the university directly helps you do this.
- Doctoral theses can be written in English, provided the supervisor agrees. Students who decide to write in German have to pass the DSH ( German language test).
- Before admittance, students will be asked to prepare a piece of scientific research and to take oral exams.
For more detailed information, please see our step-by-step guide for applications:
Step-By-Step Guide to Applications
What is a ‘Graduiertenkolleg’?
What is a ‘Graduiertenkolleg’?
A “Graduiertenkolleg” (Graduate College) is a university facility which aims to promote high-quality graduate students in a postgraduate doctoral program. As a rule, a Graduate College will be made up of between 15 and 25 students working for a doctorate in a topic chosen from the college's respective research field or for some other advanced qualification. While at the college, the graduate students are supported by a special course program and additionally receive guidance and counselling from a professorial team.
Which degrees do German Higher Education Institutions offer?
Which degrees do German Higher Education Institutions offer?
• The standard degrees offered by German Institutions of higher education are the Diplom or the Diplom (FH) and the Magister Artium (MA). The Staatsexamen is the qualification required for certain state-supervised professions, such as law, medicine, etc.
Furthermore, Germany’s universities and colleges award international qualifications, namely Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, for many degree courses. Depending on the subject in question, the degrees awarded differ in title as follows:
• “Bachelor of Arts” (BA) or “Master of Arts” (MA): Languages and cultural studies, law, economics and social sciences and aesthetics/art history
• “Bachelor of Science” (BSc) or “Master of Science” (MSc): Mathematics, natural sciences, medicine and veterinary medicine, agriculture, forestry and nutritional science/dietetics, plus engineering
• “Bachelor of Business Administration” (BBA) or “Master of Business Administration” (MBA): Economics and business management
• “Bachelor of Computer Science” or “Master of Computer Science”: Computer science
• “Bachelor of Social Work” or “Master of Social Work”: Social work and social education
Language proficiency
Do I have to prove language proficiency in German or English?
Do I have to prove language proficiency in German or English?
If you wish to follow a course of study at a German university that is not an International Degree Programme you will have to prove your German language proficiency by taking the TestDaF or DSH test. The DSH test can only be taken at a German university, while TestDaF can be obtained in a multitude of centres around the globe. To find the centre closest to you, go to
www.testdaf.de.
Furthermore, language certificates from the Goethe institutes (
www.goethe.de) are recognised as prove for your language proficiency.
If you wish to study in an International Degree programme, you might have to prove your proficiency of English. The most recognised way of doing this is the TOEFL or IELTS. To find out about the requirements, you should contact your chosen university.
Do I need to be able to speak German?
Do I need to be able to speak German?
It depends. Generally a working knowledge of the German language is necessary. Unless you select an international course of study. A lot of courses are offered in the English language; take a look at the homepages of the universities to find an overview of courses available.
However, if you can speak or have learnt to speak German, you can prove your language proficiency both in Germany and your home country. The German-run Goethe Institute offers German language courses all over the world. You can take the language diploma examinations there. These are of a sufficient standard for you to be admitted to an institution of higher education in Germany.
An alternative would be to attend one of the international summer courses available at universities in Germany. The courses are designed in such a manner that people of the same age group have a chance to learn the German language and about the country.
Living in Baden-Württemberg
Do I need a visa to study in Germany?
Do I need a visa to study in Germany?
If you belong to a country outside the European Union and are applying to study in Germany, you need a visa.
However, if you are from Australia, Japan, Canada, Isreal, New Zealand, USA, Switzerland, Honduras, Monaco and San Marino, you are exempt from this rule.
There are three types of visa for international students:
- Language course visa
- Three-month study applicant’s visa
- Visa for study purposes, valid for one year
In order to apply for a student visa, the following documents are generally required:
- A valid passport
- Passport photos
- Entitlement to university admission, as recognised in Germany (usually a high school diploma or graduation examination certificate)
- Evidence of previous academic performance
- Proof that complete financial support for one year is guaranteed
German Embassy or Consulate personnel can provide further information.
For further information, please see the section on Visas:
Visa
Do I need a work permit?
Do I need a work permit?
Foreign students may work in Germany, even without a work permit. But students who are not citizens of the European Union, or are from the ten new EU member states, can only work for a limited period per year. They are allowed to work for 90 days or 180 half-days every year without a work permit.
In many Federal States, you can only work in the summer vacation. The office for foreigners may authorise an additional working period of 10 hours per week with the approval of the local employment office. Students from EU countries (with the exception of Estonia, Lativa, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary) may work unrestrictedly.
Please see also the site on work permit.
Do I require health insurance?
Do I require health insurance?
Students, no matter where they are from, must all be insured with public health insurance companies. That costs less than € 50 a month and is well worth it.
Proof of health insurance has to be presented at the admissions office before registering for classes.
Students at colleges of preparatory studies, guest researchers, anyone taking part in language courses and students who are older than 30 do not qualify for public health insurance. They have to obtain private health insurance.
Please see also the site on Health Insurance.
How do I find an appartment?
How do I find an appartment?
You should preferably obtain information before travel, in order to find cheap accommodation. You can consider several possibilities when looking for accommodation.
Newspapers and Notice-boards
Offers of accommodation are available in local newspapers, usually in the Wednesday and weekend editions. You can also advertise that you're looking for a room. Classified newspapers specialise in advertisements. You could also find accommodation at your university. The “notice-boards” are usually crammed with offers of accommodation scrawled on bits of paper. For those who arrive in Germany alone, flat sharing in so-called “WGs” (Wohngemeinschaften), is a good way to get to meet people.
Shared-living centres, halls of residence, estate agents
Many university cities have shared-living centres (Mitwohnzentrale) which help you find accommodation for limited periods. These, however, work on a low commission basis. Halls of residence also provide accommodation. Anyone looking for a flat through an estate agent must bear one thing in mind: two months’ rent is usually required as an advance payment. This is a lot of money and is not worthwhile for students staying for a short period of time.
When dealing with estate agents, try and find out if they are members of the professional organisation -Ring of German Estate Agents (RDM).
Student Dormitories
The rooms here are indeed often very small, but on the other hand they are the cheapest available. Many dormitories now have bigger rooms and even offer rooms for couples. The student services can provide you with addresses and information on the admission procedure for the student dormitories.
For further information, please also see:
Accommodation
